15 Adorable Pumpkin Carving Ideas - Rachel's Crafted Life (2024)

FAQs

What should I carve into my pumpkin? ›

Carving out scary, funny and cute pumpkin faces is an entertaining Halloween activity for all ages. There are zipper-mouthed pumpkins, smiling wicked witches, zombies, ghouls, candy monsters and so many more simple pumpkin carving ideas that'll boost your spooky decor on October 31.

Small paring knives are great for carving designs into the pumpkin. Pumpkin-carving kits, made specifically for kids or adults, are another good source. Battery-operated, pumpkin-carving knives also make quick work of even intricate designs.

Using a marker pen, draw the outline of your heart onto the pumpkin. Then use a small sharp serrated knife to cut out your heart (always cut away from you in case the knife slips). Finally, pop a tea light inside the pumpkin and light it.

Carving a mini jack o' lantern is essentially the same as creating one of the standard sizes. There are a few things to keep in mind to make it easier and more successful: Choose pumpkins that are small but round. Too flattened and you won't be able to carve it.

Carving Pumpkins

It is the Jack-O-Lantern pumpkin! These pumpkins were bred for carving, so they have little flesh (“pumpkin guts”) on the inside and thin walls that make it easy to carve and allow candles to shine through. Lumina pumpkins are also a fun choice for carving due to their eerie white skin.

Generally, carved pumpkins last between 3 to 5 days, but weather and sunlight can play a huge role in your lantern's life. If you live in a colder climate, your pumpkin could last up to a week, but if it's exposed to heat, it may only last a few days.

The carved areas of the pumpkin become swiftly vulnerable to mold because they are so moist, and mold loves most surfaces.

Another method is to lightly spray the cut interior with a solution of 1 tablespoon peppermint Castile soap in a quart of water. Peppermint is a natural anti-fungal and will slow the decaying processing.

While you can gut your gourd with a kitchen knife and spoon, pumpkin carving kits make the experience easier and safer—for more on the latter, see our pumpkin carving safety tips.

What do professionals use to carve pumpkins? ›

These tools are much sturdier and include pumpkin carving knives (paring knife, X-acto knife, and specialty types), wood- or metal-handled clay ribbon loops, and fine-detail clay loops. Wood and clay tools are really critical for 3D faces, and are amazing pumpkin sculpting tools.

Wipe off the pumpkin: Use the kitchen towel to wipe off the outside of the pumpkin so that it will be easier and safer to carve. Cut out the design: Make straight cuts into your pumpkin along the lines of your design, removing the pieces and discarding them in the refuse bowl.

step 1: go to the store and get yourself a pumpkin that's bigger than your head. Step 2: carving at the bottom with a circular opening. take out as much guts as possible and make the circle bigger until your head just fits. try on your pumpkin head.